We play to win

Urban City’s newly-appointed DStv Diski Challenge head coach Ashraf Hendricks is stepping into his latest chapter with a unique twist. The former Moroka Swallows and Mpumalanga Black Aces defender not only carries the responsibility of guiding City’s young talents, but also faces the prospect of plotting against his own teenage son, Imaad, who is making waves at Kaizer Chiefs. Fresh from scoring a brace and earning the Man of the Match award against Richards Bay FC, Imaad could be a thorn in his father’s side when the two teams meet in a few days. In this interview with Soccer Laduma’s Delmain Faver, Hendricks reflects on fatherhood, football, and a new generation shaped by legacy.

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Urban City’s newly-appointed DStv Diski Challenge head coach Ashraf Hendricks is stepping into his latest chapter with a unique twist.

to put him in that environment so he knows it’s always going to be hard. It’s always going to be difficult. It’s going to push you. That was one of my reasons why I got him into that environment.

DF: How do you strike the balance from your perspective? On the one hand, you are a father. On the other hand, you are a coach, and you see the game very differently.

AH: That’s one thing that’s helped me deal with situations better. When they do get benched, it’s easy for us to find excuses for why they’re benched. They don’t always have an excuse in life to say, “I’m not there because of this and this.” They never look at themselves and say, “I'm the problem.” That’s why I always teach them that. When you're benched, find out why. Don’t look at a situation where a coach likes this person, a coach likes that person, because it’s never like that. Even if it is like that, always look at how you can get better. That’s one thing I've learned as a coach, coming through and seeing kids and learning now and teaching the boys that, is that never, never, ever come and say the coach is a problem or anyone else is a problem. Look at yourself, fix yourself and make yourself better.

DF: In a week's time, you have to devise a plan to stop him. How do you plan for that, though?